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Liverpool's second alarming collapse in as many weeks prompted manager Andoni Iraola to concede that his squad currently lacks the physical capacity to execute his vision of play.
Time is not on their side, however, as the reigning 2024–25 champions face an away fixture at Newcastle United in just 13 days to kick off the new campaign.
Iraola's Bournemouth were known for their high-intensity, high-press approach, drawing comparisons to the 'heavy metal' football Jürgen Klopp once championed at Anfield. When Mohamed Salah appeared to take a swipe at Arne Slot shortly before both departed the club, his remarks targeted the more conservative philosophy the Dutchman had introduced during his second season in charge.
The challenge with what Iraola is attempting to instill in a squad unaccustomed to such a demanding system is that it takes time. While Liverpool looked impressive during the opening 30 minutes against Monaco on Sunday—with the Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak partnership beginning to show promise—that appeared to be the extent of the team's energy reserves.
Neat build-up. Cool finish. 🎯 pic.twitter.com/zgQA5jUWO3
The Reds built a 2–0 lead before shipping three unanswered goals to suffer defeat. It echoed the previous week's 4–2 loss to Leeds United in Chicago, albeit in less dramatic fashion.
"We played well in the first half, particularly the opening 30 minutes," Iraola reflected. "Right now, we probably don't have much more, in terms of the levels required to play like this, and [Monaco] were far superior in the second half. They earned the right to turn the game around."
The Liverpool lineup that faced Monaco was much closer to Iraola's preferred starting XI, with Alisson, Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo all making their preseason bows. New recruit Víctor Muñoz also made an unofficial appearance off the bench during the final 30 minutes.
"It was their first game, and even those playing for the second time had energy. The issue right now is they don't have enough to sustain it for 90 minutes," the manager explained.
"They begin to tire, and it will take time. We need more training sessions with them. There are plenty of positives to take, but also a fair share of negatives."
Van Dijk Admits Liverpool Have 'a Lot of Work to Do'
Van Dijk, who celebrated his 35th birthday last month, is yet to be paired with a regular defensive partner heading into the new season. The centre-back lined up alongside teenage defender Ifeanyi Ndukwe on Sunday and briefly featured next to Wataru Endo before being substituted after 60 minutes.
Joe Gomez, Jérémy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni were all sidelined through injury, though there is optimism that Jacquet could feature against Como next weekend—either in the behind-closed-doors friendly or the subsequent public fixture at Anfield. Liverpool are also pursuing a loan deal for Ronald Araújo from Barcelona. None of these developments, however, represent an immediate solution.
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"It definitely feels like something of a transition period, for sure," Van Dijk told reporters.
"It's up to everyone connected with Liverpool to ensure we are laying the foundations for sustained success in the years ahead. This season, we want to compete, but there is still a great deal of work to be done, and we all understand how demanding it is to compete across the Premier League, [EFL] Cup, FA Cup and Champions League. We'll need everyone performing at their peak."
Liverpool will undoubtedly grow fitter and sharper, but it is hard to envisage that happening quickly enough to ensure a strong start to the campaign. The bigger question is how long it takes for Iraola's philosophy to fully take root—and already, there is a risk that 2026–27 could be written off as a transitional year while the new ideas bed in.